[Guatemala bloggers] Proof that God exists

The World Vision bloggers returned home from Guatemala a week ago, having witnessed firsthand how World Vision’s work helps transform the lives of children, families, and communities through child sponsorship. Matthew Paul Turner writes about his prayer during the trip to be able to feel and witness the experience.

Instead, when we hear the word poverty or read about the thousand or more consequences of poverty, our hearts and minds shut down. We grow cynical. We turn skeptical.

We’re bored.

Or at least that’s me. Maybe I’m the only one who has often grown bored with poverty.

Which is why I prayed.

(Photo: Matthew Paul Turner)

Because I didn’t want to miss hearing Maria talk to us about the epidemic that is chronic malnutrition … what it looks like and how it helps fester the wounds of poverty.

Because I didn’t want to miss seeing the burden that weighed down Andrea’s eyes, the girl whose struggles seemed intent on stealing away her light.

Because I didn’t want to miss how many times I heard the names of God or Jesus being uttered in praise by those who seemed to have no reason at all to sing aloud, let alone praise God.

I didn’t want to miss out on feeling poverty, the effects of poverty, the pains of poverty, the Hell of poverty … and I didn’t want to miss out on my role, the part I get to play in helping to resolve poverty in the life of another.

Our World Vision tour guide—a jolly soul named Francisco— told us this morning that a little boy, while talking about his child sponsor, said, “They are the only proof of God I’ve ever known.”

Thirty-thousand children in Guatemala are praying for sponsors. They are praying for light to shine down on their lives, their families’ lives, their communities’ lives. Thirty-thousand kids are looking for somebody who will offer them some tangible proof that God exists.

And perhaps you might be the proof that one child in Guatemala is looking for… the proof that God is real, the proof that God loves them and cares for them, the proof that God is amid the details of their circumstances…

We had the opportunity to visit World Vision’s “Tinamit” community in Guatemala, and we’re bringing you the opportunity to help these children directly. Hundreds of children in Tinamit alone and thousands across Guatemala still need sponsors! Consider sponsoring a child in Tinamit today.

See what some of our other bloggers have written recently about the trip: